Darekon’s roots go back to 1985, when the company began its operations in Haapavesi. What started as a small unit grew rapidly, and over the years the Haapavesi factory has been expanded several times to meet both customer expectations and the requirements of modern electronics manufacturing. Today, hundreds of professionals work at the site, making it one of Darekon Group’s most important units.
The economic changes of the early 1990s shifted the company’s focus to contract manufacturing, which quickly became the core of its business. This strategic shift created a foundation for stable growth and allowed the company to expand beyond Finland. The first international step was taken in 1991 to Poland, where the business gradually stabilized and grew into a significant part of Darekon Group.
In the 2000s, Darekon strengthened its expertise and capacity through several acquisitions. Mechanical manufacturing was added alongside electronics manufacturing, and the company developed into a provider offering increasingly comprehensive services to its customers.
In recent years, Darekon has also expanded into Sweden and strengthened its position as a contract manufacturer in Northern Europe. The electronics and mechanics production units in Finland, Sweden and Poland form a network that serves customers across multiple industrial sectors. Operations have been constantly developed both technically, qualitatively and in terms of production capacity.
Today, Darekon is a diverse and international contract manufacturer that has grown continuously for over 40 decades. The company’s development has been built on thoughtful decisions, long-term customer relationships and a practical, hands-on approach of continuous building of the operations year after year.
Timeline
Oy Darekon Ltd is established.
Opening of the manufacturing facility in Haapavesi.
Electronics manufacturing is started.
A joint venture company is established with a Polish partner for manufacturing electronics in Gdańsk.
Kai Orpo starts as the CEO.
Darekon establishes a subsidiary in Gdańsk, Poland.
The Polish partner’s share of Darekon Sp. z o.o is acquired.
The first extension of the Haapavesi facility is completed.
The second extension of the Haapavesi facility is completed.
Darekon Sp. z o.o moves to its own 1,500m² manufacturing facility.
Darekon acquires ET-Electro Oy at Savonranta. The operation is continued under the name Darekon-Electro.
The Savonranta plant moves to new 2,500 m² premises.
A majority stake in the company is transferred to the private equity firm Sentica Partners.
Darekon acquires Mecanova Oy’s sheet metal operations at its Klaukkala facility. The operation is continued at the 4,500m² premises in Klaukkala.
Darekon acquires all shares of contract manufacturer Apelec Oy and the company is merged with Darekon. The operation is mainly concentrated at the Klaukkala facility.
Darekon Sp. z o.o opens a second, 2,400m² manufacturing facility in Gdańsk. Local electronics manufacturing is concentrated in the new facility while cable harness manufacturing and final assembly remains in the first facility.
Darekon Electro is merged with Darekon. The operation continues in Savonranta.
Kai and Henri Orpo with their families buy back Sentica Partner’s share of Darekon.
The modernization and extension of Darekon’s Haapavesi facility is completed. The size of the facility increases to 4,600m².
Darekon acquires paint shop Idea-Paint Oy in Klaukkala and integrates it into its Klaukkala plant.
Darekon acquires all shares of contract manufacturer IHAAB Component Systems AB including its subsidiaries SMD Production AB and KELAB Systems AB in Stockholm, Sweden.
Darekon acquires all shares of sheet metal contract manufacturer Premec Oy in Ylivieska.
KELAB Systems AB and IHAAB Systems AB is merged into SMD Production AB. The name is changed to Darekon AB.
The fourth extension of the Haapavesi plant is completed. The size of the facility increases to 5,600 m².
The sheet metal operations of Premec Oy are merged into Darekon.
Turnover
Personnel
